Menu
The primary role of a nurse is patient advocacy. Nurses usually enjoy working with and helping people. They regularly communicate with patients and are responsible for recording a patient’s medical symptoms and history. A nurse must also collaborate with a team of health care professionals to create an informed patient care plan. Nurses monitor a patient’s health, administer treatments and medications, operate medical equipment, perform diagnostic tests, educate and assist patients about managing illnesses, and provide care while supporting a patient’s dignity.
A nurse might have cared for you when you got sick or injured at school, or when you went to an appointment in a clinic or hospital. Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in our state as well as in the nation. The women and men who are registered nurses work in many different settings and serve all communities.
Nurses need to be:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 15% job growth rate for registered nurses through 2026, and a career in nursing can offer job security and growth throughout your career. Nursing is a profession that blends scientific knowledge with compassion and caring. There are few professions that combine high tech and high touch like nursing.
A few other reasons why nursing is a great career choice for your future include:
There is a high need for nurses who represent all ethnic groups and other underrepresented populations.
After you graduate from high school, there are several paths you can take to become a registered nurse. As you search for a program that is best for you, make sure it is on the Washington State Nursing Commission’s list of Approved Nursing Programs in the State of Washington.
Nurses’ education teaches them about health and illness and how the body and mind work. They also learn how to manage other members of the healthcare team, such as nursing or medical assistants.
To learn more about navigating the cost of nursing school click here.
Additional Support Guides for College Success
Study.com Student Scholarships for students with different types of disabilities pursuing degrees (Application deadline of May 1, 2023)
Click the image to view. 
Nursing is Opportunity presented by WCN Executive Director, Sofia Aragon, JD, BSN, RN
To be a registered nurse is to make a difference in people’s lives. At the very minimum, nursing provides an income that will support you and your family well. As a career, thousands of opportunities are available to you to help make the world a better place for everyone. This presentation will provide an overview of the many opportunities in nursing.
The Washington Center for Nursing: Resources and information for becoming a nurse in WA state
The Washington Center for Nursing talks with students about what is needed to become a nurse and ways WCN can help.
Thinking About Nursing: OH MY! presented by Mary Mahoney Professional Nurses Organization member Dr. Gayle Robinson
An African American Woman shares a story about what ignited her imagination, her curiosity with biology, chemistry, physics, drawing, poetry, writing and math. She shares a story about her experiences in health care, and the people who helped her along the way in her nursing journey from preschool to PhD.
Nursing: From Social Anxiety to Social Media presented by Nurse Stefan Torres
Nurse Stefan shares how the nursing profession transformed him from an awkward adolescent to an awesome adult, and the steps it takes to get to the life-changing career he never expected.
